High quality child care for families in the downtown Nashville area

As Early Educators, our role is huge in supporting healthy brain development of the children in our care.

During the first few years of life, more than 1 million new neural connections form every second (source: The Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University). During these early years, the foundation is laid, either weak or strong, for future brain development.

Interactions between children and their parents or caregivers are a major factor in the formation of brain circuits. “Serve and Return”, the back and forth responsive communication between a baby or child and the consistent adults in his/her life, shape brain architecture. When a baby or young child cries, smiles, or elicits a response from a caregiver, and the adult eagerly responds with a smile, eye contact, a touch, or words, neural connections are built and bolstered. Like a spirited game of tennis, this back and forth communication is key to healthy brain development. Conversely, the lack of these responsive relationships are a serious threat to a child’s dvelopment and well being.

Below are five simple steps for building rich serve and return experiences with a child: (source: Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University

Notice the serve and share the child’s focus of attention. By noticing serves, you’ll learn a lot about a child’s abilities, interests, and needs. You’ll encourage her to explore and you’ll strength the bond between you.

Return the serve by supporting and encouraging. Supporting and encouraging rewards a child’s interests and curiosity. Never getting a return can actually be stressful for a child. When you return the serve, the child knows that his thoughts and feelings are heard and understood.

Give it a name! When you name what a child is focused on, you help her understand the world around her and help her know what to expect. Naming also gives her words to use herself and lets her know you care.

Take turns…and wait. Keep the interaction going back and forth. Taking turns helps children learn self-control and how to get along with others. By waiting, you give the child time to develop his ideas and build his confidence and independence. Waiting also helps you understand his needs.

Practice endings and beginnings. When you can find moments for a child to take the lead, you support her in exploring her world—and make more serve and return interactions possible.

Emotional well-being and social competence provide a strong base for emerging cognitive abilities, and together these form the foundation of healthy brain architecture. Parents and consistent caregivers and early educators are the “architects” who support this development. Healthy brain growth is nurtured by speaking to, playing with, and consistently caring for children. Understanding children’s needs and responding sensitively to them, helps to protect children’s brains from stress. High quality early care programs, staffed with well trained professionals who understand their role in building healthy brains, offer a healthy start to brain architecture.

Each year the children from all eight classrooms create an amazing group art piece (or two) to be included in the Silent Auction that is a part of our Fall Festival. The creations range from melted crayon masterpieces to feather painted collages. Regardless of the medium or the finished product, the real value is in the process of creating. Enjoy the video link below to see the children making art masterfully.

A magical space for discovery, creativity, and inquiry!

Anthony Creasy has stepped out of the Pre-K classroom (after over 8 years) and into the studio as our new Atelierista. Consequently, he has spent the last couple of weeks readying the space for the children. He has been intentional about creating a space that is serene, beautiful, awe-inspiring, and connected to nature.

The summer heat, coupled with a very wet spring, has offered our rooftop garden, and especially our tomatoes, a thriving climate in which to grow. Beginning in late May, we began to see the fruits of our labor. Since then, we have added the delicious fruit to our daily snacks on many occasions. Yet, we still have plenty to spare.

The Constructivist Class decided to share our bounty (and make some money) by setting up a tomato stand in the lobby. The group spent time creating signage, discussing the market value of organic tomatoes as a means to price theirs, and in planning how to present them to potential customers.

In preparation for the sale, math came in handy. For ease, they decided to sell two sizes, large and small. Once separated into baskets, they priced them to sell. 50 cents for a small tomato and $1.00 for a large tomato. “Ringing up” the orders proved to be a bit more challenging, yet presented the children with a great opportunity to utilize their new knowledge about money values. “Four quarters is a dollar?” one child asked in wonderment.

By consensus, they agreed to use their profits to reinvest in the rooftop garden. They plan to purchase seeds for a fall planting!

So far, Spring in Nashville has been wet! For the year, rain totals are, on average, 8 inches above average.

Although we have access to a full-sized gym for daily active play, altering our outdoor play because of rainy weather can be a drag. Or, it can be a blessing! When the downpours ease and the sun seeps through the rain clouds, we consider it nature’s invitation to come and play in the puddles. Our collection of rain boots and adventurous children makes outdoor play possible even when it rains!